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[Narr]

I normally try and keep my mouth clean, but I'm genuinely upset with Electronic Arts.  I think they are enormous fucking douchebag cockmongrels that are trying to assfuck us as consumers, especially with the latest development with Battlefield 2142.

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/centipedes/battlefield-2142-with-a-dash-of-spyware-207955.php

Another site confirming this information:
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/17/battlefield-2142-employ-spies-in-your-pc/

If you don't want to follow the links, he's the gist of it.

The Software may incorporate technology developed by IGA Worldwide Inc. ("IGA") (the "Advertising Technology"). The purpose of the Advertising Technology is to deliver in-game advertisements to you when you use the Software while connected to the Internet. When you use the Software while connected to the Internet, the Advertising Technology may record your Internet Protocol address and other anonymous information ("Advertising Data"). The Advertising Data is temporarily used by IGA to enable the presentation and measurement of in-game advertisements and other in-game objects which are uploaded temporarily to your personal computer or game console and charged during online game play. The Advertising Technology does not collect any personally identifiable information about you, and EA will not provide IGA with any of your personally identifiable information. The servers used by the Advertising Technology may, from time to time, be located outside your country of residence. If you are located within the European Union, the servers may be located outside the European Union.

By installing and using the Software, you agree to: (i) the transfer of the Advertising Data to servers located outside your country of residence and, if applicable, outside the European Union; (ii) the collection and use of the Advertising Data as described in this Section; and (iii) the delivery of advertising and marketing content of the Advertising Technology. IF YOU DO NOT WANT IGA TO COLLECT, USE, STORE OR TRANSMIT THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, DO NOT INSTALL OR PLAY THE SOFTWARE ON ANY PLATFORM THAT IS USED TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET.

I can handle in-game advertising.  If Counter-Strike had "Enjoy a refreshing Mountain Dew!" or "Have a snack attack?  Cheetos are for you!" in between loading screens, I wouldn't be flagrantly upset.  If Valve obtained the fact I like Mountain Dew and Cheetos by MONITERING MY COMPUTING HABITS VIA MOTHERFUCKING SPYWARE, I would, however, be incredibly pissed.

I realize the internet isn't exactly a private place, because there's ways people can obtain your IP address and hack your computer, but that is illegal to do so, so I feel at least protected by the law.  I think what EA is doing here is simply disgusting.  It's invading the privacy of their user-base.

I'm outright boycotting EA products, although I suppose that's not a big deal coming from me because I'm not a fan of sports games, but then again, they will be the ones publishing Spore, and it SUCKS that I have to give that up because EA is a giant, enormous fucking dick that's trying to slap their cock in our collective faces.

[mberan42]

Man, if EA wants to spy on me when I surf for porn, read webcomics and gabbly, by all means they're welcome to it.

[öde]

That joke is on EA! Most of my browsing involves webcomics and other games!

[Narr]

Which will equate to Tycho from Penny-Arcade on every one of your loading screens yelling "BUY MADDEN 200X, YOU FUCKING TOOL!"

[Storm Rider]

Actually, a lot of this has been seriously overblown. My gaming website of choice Gamespot.com has a Q&A with the marketing firm that did the in-game stuff in BF2142 explaining exactly what that disclaimer meant here.

I am kind of pissed about EA's behavior lately, especially with their bullshit policies towards XBox Live Marketplace (charging ridiculous amounts of money for things that used to come with games for free, like bonus stadiums and alternate uniforms). But I don't buy many EA games because I don't play sports games anymore, and don't play Battlefield. For right now I'm sick of paying 50 dollars every year for a Madden game with a slight graphical update and newer rosters. I haven't bought one since Madden 2005 and don't plan to unless the Wii version turns out to provide an actually different experience for a change.

[thepugs]

How cool would it be if you could use the Wii wand thing to stiff-arm somebody in the face.

But yeah, EA needs to stop their sucking.